Watch The Amorous Prawn

The Amorous Prawn is a British comedy film from 1962, directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring Ian Carmichael, Joan Greenwood, and Cecil Parker. The film is set in the fictional European country of Tiresia, where Major-General Charles Koswell (Cecil Parker) has been posted with his wife Lady Maureen (Liz Fraser) and daughter Caroline (Sarah Brackett). However, the Major-General has a bit of a problem - he is impotent due to an injury sustained during the war, and as a result, he is unable to father any children. This puts him in a precarious situation, as he is worried about what will happen to his family name and title once he passes away.

In an effort to solve his problem, the Major-General hires a young, handsome and virile man named Private Chalk (Ian Carmichael) - who is nicknamed "The Amorous Prawn" - to impregnate his daughter Caroline and thus continue the family line. However, Caroline is already engaged to a young man named Corporal Bruce Crichton (Nicholas Parsons), and she has no intention of breaking off her engagement just to become pregnant.

The Major-General's plans become more complicated when his wife Lady Maureen takes a liking to Private Chalk and begins to pursue him. Meanwhile, the private himself falls in love with a beautiful young girl named Helga (Joan Greenwood), who he met during his travels.

The film is filled with laughs and misunderstandings as the characters try to navigate their way through their various romantic entanglements. Along the way, they encounter a cast of quirky secondary characters, including a mad scientist and some local fishermen.

One of the key themes of the film is the way in which the class system is portrayed. The Major-General and his family are very much part of the upper class, while Private Chalk and Helga come from more humble backgrounds. However, the film also suggests that love and attraction can cross these boundaries, and that people from different backgrounds can come together in unexpected ways.

Another noteworthy aspect of the film is the way in which it plays with gender roles. Lady Maureen is portrayed as a sexually aggressive woman, which was considered somewhat scandalous for the time. Meanwhile, Private Chalk is objectified by the female characters, who see him primarily as a means to an end - either to impregnate Caroline, or to satisfy their own desires.

Overall, The Amorous Prawn is a lighthearted and charming comedy that will appeal to fans of vintage British cinema. With its witty script, talented cast, and playful approach to romantic entanglements, it is a film that is sure to entertain audiences of all ages.